Image: Whakapapa NZ.
“New Zealand has reported the biggest snowfalls of the past week, with some centers on the South Island receiving up to 60 cm (2 feet) in total, greatly improving conditions,” Snow-Forecast wrote on August 7, reporting the good news for ski resort operators.
The snow was accompanied by chilly weather with the MetService reporting below zero temperatures in the mountains and across the Waikato district, the country’s fourth largest district located on the North Island.
“It has been a frosty start to August, with temperatures plunging below zero in parts of Waikato,” reported the Waikato Herald, citing temperature data provided by the MetService. “The coldest temperature recorded in the region on Monday was -1.6C at Taupō Airport. That temperature dropped to -2C on Tuesday.”
Elsewhere across the district, frost was widespread with freezing or below freezing temperatures also being reported at Taupō’s township and the Hamilton Airport.
The MetService forecast was for widespread below freezing temperatures across Waikato, at least through Thursday, August 8, with snow expected to fall at Tongariro National Park by late in the week and possibly through the weekend.
This snow would come on top of the large dump of snow that fell across parts both New Zealand’s North and South Islands in the first days of August.
“New Zealand is reporting great conditions after the snowfalls there transformed the picture at many of the country’s centers,” Snow-Forecast wrote. “Up to 60 cm (24”) was reported, mostly falling on the South Island between Monday and Wednesday and then on the North Island over the following day or two.
“The fresh snow allowed most of [the commercial ski fields] to open 90-100% of their terrain, having had only 40-70% open in June and July, and saw the first reported upper slope snow depths top the meter (40″) mark this year,” continued Snow-Forecast. “The weather turned fine on the South Island from Thursday onwards, with temperatures mostly in the -6 to +4°C range.”
Looking at the resort-by-resort breakdown provided by Snow.NZ, most of New Zealand’s ski resorts are now either fully or partially open on plentiful fresh snow, with temperatures hovering just above or below the freezing mark.